Systems and methods are provided for securing an enclosure to an autonomous vehicle. The enclosure can be translated to a final alignment location on a fixture of the autonomous vehicle. The enclosure can include one or more piezoelectric sensors disposed underneath one or more mounting points of the enclosure. The one or more piezoelectric sensors can be initialized to an initial value. Changes in values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors can be measured as the enclosure is being secured to the fixture by one or more mechanical coupling devices through the one or more mounting points.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for securing an enclosure to a vehicle comprising: translating the enclosure to a location on a fixture of the vehicle, wherein the enclosure includes one or more piezoelectric sensors disposed underneath one or more respective mounting points of the enclosure; initializing the one or more piezoelectric sensors to an initial value; and measuring values from the respective one or more piezoelectric sensors as the enclosure is being secured to the fixture by one or more mechanical coupling devices at the one or more respective mounting points; converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values; and emitting a notification when a measured value reaches a value corresponding to a desired torque value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is an audio cue.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification is a visual cue.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values is based on a calibration curve.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the calibration curve is at least one of a linear curve, a polynomial curve, or an exponential curve.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values is based on a lookup table.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the values measured by the one or more piezoelectric sensors correspond to pressures exerted between the enclosure and the fixture.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure encases a LiDAR and cameras.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mechanical coupling devices include at least one of a screw, a nut and bolt, a rivet, or a fastener.
10. A system for securing an enclosure to a vehicle comprising: the enclosure mounted to a fixture of the vehicle, the enclosure comprising: one or more sensors encased by the enclosure; and a transparent cover as an exterior of the enclosure; one or more piezoelectric sensors disposed beneath the enclosure and between the enclosure and the fixture; one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform: translating the enclosure to a location on the fixture of the vehicle, initializing the one or more piezoelectric sensors to an initial value, and measuring values from the respective one or more piezoelectric sensors as the enclosure is being secured to the fixture by one or more mechanical coupling devices at one or more respective mounting points of the enclosure, converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values; and emitting a notification when a measured value reaches a value corresponding to a desired torque value.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the notification is an audio cue.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the notification is a visual cue.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values is based on a calibration curve.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the calibration curve is at least one of a linear curve, a polynomial curve, or an exponential curve.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values is based on a lookup table.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the values measured by the one or more piezoelectric sensors correspond to pressures exerted between the enclosure and the fixture.
17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the enclosure encases a LiDAR and cameras.
18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more mechanical coupling devices include at least one of a screw, a nut and bolt, a rivet, or a fastener.
19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform: translating an enclosure on a vehicle to a location on a fixture of the vehicle, wherein the enclosure includes one or more piezoelectric sensors disposed underneath one or more respective mounting points of the enclosure; initializing the one or more piezoelectric sensors to an initial value; and measuring values from the respective one or more piezoelectric sensors as the enclosure is being secured to the fixture by one or more mechanical coupling devices at the one or more respective mounting points; converting the measured values from the one or more piezoelectric sensors into corresponding torque values; and emitting a notification when a measured value reaches a value corresponding to a desired torque value.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
July 25, 2019
September 8, 2020
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